A Tale of a Lonely Parish eBook

But when he was gone, Mrs. Goddard grew very nervous.
One of her wraps could not be found, and while search
was being made for it the motherly Mrs. Ambrose insisted
upon giving her something hot, in the way of brandy
and water. She looked very ill, but showed the
strongest desire to go. It was no matter about
the shawl, she said; Mr. Ambrose could send it in the
morning; but the thing was found and at last Mrs. Goddard
and Nellie and John got into the dog-cart with old
Reynolds and drove off. All these things consumed
some time.

The squire on the other hand strode briskly forward
towards the cottage, not wishing to keep John waiting
for him. As he walked his mind wandered back
to the consideration of the almost tragic events which
were occurring in the peaceful village. He forgot
all about John, as he looked up at the half moon which
struggled to give some light through the driving clouds;
he fell to thinking of Mrs. Goddard and to wondering
where her husband might be lying hidden. The road
was lonely and he walked fast, with Stamboul close
at his heel. The dog-cart did not overtake him
before he reached the cottage, and he forgot all about
it. By sheer force of habit he opened the white
gate and, closing it behind him, entered the park
alone.

CHAPTER XIX.

John’s impression of Mrs. Goddard was strengthened
by the scene at the vicarage at the moment of leaving.
The extraordinary nervousness she betrayed, the anxiety
for her welfare shown by Mrs. Ambrose and the grave
face of the vicar all favoured the idea that she had
become an invalid since he had last met her.
He himself fell into the manner of those about him
and spoke in low tones and moved delicately as though
fearing to offend her sensitive nerves. The vicar
alone understood the situation and had been very much
surprised at the squire’s sudden determination
to walk home; he would gladly have seized his hat
and run after his friend, but he feared Mrs. Ambrose’s
curiosity and moreover on reflection felt sure that
the dog-cart would overtake Mr. Juxon before he was
half way to the cottage. He was very far from
suspecting him of the absence of mind which he actually
displayed, but it was a great relief to him to see
the little party safe in the dog-cart and on the way
homeward.

Mrs. Goddard was on the front seat with old Reynolds,
and John, who would have preferred to sit by her side
a few months ago, was glad to find himself behind
with Nellie. It was a curious instinct, but he
felt it strongly and was almost grateful to the old
man for stolidly keeping his seat. So he sat
beside Nellie and talked to her, to the child’s
intense delight; she had not enjoyed the evening very
much, for she felt the general sense of oppression
as keenly as children always feel such things, and
she had long exhausted the slender stock of illustrated
books which lay upon the table in the vicarage drawing-room.